Fish spear



J. DOYhE FISH SPEAK Sepf. 23, 1930.

Filed Dec. 23, 1927 avwemto'c 20 21;

M Mr 07 Patented Sept. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES JOHN DOYLE, orooNEYasLAnn, new "YORK FISH srnan.

Application filed December 25,1927. seriaino. 242,233. a

This invention relates to improvements in fish spears and has for itsobject to provide.

a spear of this character which will positively prevent the escape of acaught fish.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a fish spear ofcomparatively simple and inexpensive construction, yet durable andefficient in operation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a fish spear equippedwith movable jaws closing against the spear as soon as the same strikesa fish and embedding their hooks into the body of the fish preventingits escape.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a fish spearallowing a convenient resetting of the parts for a new operation aftereach spearing ofa fish.

of my invention will become more fully apand will then be specificallydefined in the appended claims.

Inthe accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure: 7r

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my device ready for operation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a ratchet.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the lever arms and depending members.

As illustrated, he fish spear. according to my invention comprises ashaft 10, with which is integrally made a centrally located partlyhollow prong or spear 11 depending therefrom and equipped with the barbs12.

Also integrally made with the shaft are the resilient prongs 13 and 14:respectively on opposite sides of the central prong or spear 11 andequipped at their lower ends with inwardly directed barbs 15. V

The hollow prong or spear 11 carries ratchet 16 rotating on a transversepin 17 or the like, with which are combined lever arms 18 and 19respectively extending in opposite directions and normally engaging withtheir outer ends the inner faces of prongs 13, 14; to hold the samenormallyspr'ead and distanced from the central spear.

. The device operates'asfollows:

with by means of a spring 24;,

lever arms "18.19 and arranged within the .hollow prong 11 are separatedbyapin 29., 'andlever arms 18, 19 have teeth 23 engaging the ratchet andare held in engagement there- H f As soon as spear 11 with its barbs 12enters the body of a fish the body of the same will swing leverarms 18,19 into a position allow;

-ingthebarbs 15 of resilientprongs 13, 14 to enter the body ofthe fish,while simultaneously arms 20, 21- with their pointed ends will enter;the body of the fish so that the sameis securely held and'cannotescape.

A proper manipulat'on of pin 17 by suitable tool engaging itsbo ss25wil1 a llo'w "amesetting ofthe parts for a new operation. Theseandother objects and advantages 1 It will be understood that I havedescribedfland shown the preferred: form of parent as the descriptionthereof proceeds,

y d ice. a on simp e .Q t ma y re sib le ways topractically constructthe same and "that" I may make such changes in its general arrangementand in the construe tion of the minor details thereof as come within thescope of the appended claims without departure from the spirit of myinventionand the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letprongs apart from said central prong allowmg movement ofsaid lateral prongs against the central prong upon the spearing of afish to positively hold the fish, and means for resetting theprongsafter each catch.

2. A fish-spear comprising a partly hol low central prong,- lateralprongs combined therewith, a ratchet on said central prong, a

transverse pin in said central prong, levers comblned with dependingarms on said pin engaging said ratchet for normally keeping.

the lateral prongs apart from said central" prong but allowing a turningabout said ratchet upon the spearing of a fish by said central prongyanda means for resetting the prongs after each catch.

50 Arms 20, 21, normally depending from 3. A fish-spear comprising acentral prong having a lower barbed end, lateral prongs, barbs at theends of said lateral prongs directed to said central prong and itsbarbs, a ratchet on said central prong,

' 5 a transverse pin in said central prong, lever arms having dependingarms on said pin engaging. said. ratchet for normally keeping thelateral prongs apart from said central y prong, said depending armsadapted to turn with said ratchet upon the spearing of a fish by saidcentral prong tozturnsaid lever arms to allow a movement of the lateralprongs 7 towards the central prong to embed their barbs into the fishspeared' by said central; prong preventing the escape of the caughtfishv and a meansfor resettingthepantslafter v each catch.

4. In. a fish-spear, a hollow central barbed prong, a ratchet. onsaidcentral prong, lateral resilient barbed; prongs. integrally madewith said central prong, a. transverse pin. in said central. prong,lever; arms combined therewith, means: for normally setting said arms.to; keep said lateral prongs: spaced 25. from said. central rong,depending: arms on. said lever: arms: aving pointed; ends,.a pin. for.keeping said. depending; arms apart, teeth on said lever arms, engagingsaid ratchet, a spring. for. normally keeping. said 30, teeth inengagement with said ratchet, said lever armsad'apt'ed to, swingabout:their pin upon the. engagement, by thebodyof. a fish. caught by thecentral. prong, 'saidr" depending arms adapted" to; engage. the, bodyofthe fish,,and. a means for allowing a .re-

setting of. the, partsafter. each operation; l JOHN DOYLE.

com

.goa-

